Dr. Steven Kunkel is the Peter A. Ward Distinguished University Professor, Endowed Professor of Pathology Research, Head of the Immunology Program, and Senior Associate Dean for Research at the University of Michigan Medical School. He received his PhD at the University of Kansas in microbiology and did his post-doctoral training at the University of Connecticut Health Sciences. His areas of research have centered on assessing molecular mechanisms of lung inflammation by investigating cytokine directed cell-to-cell communication circuits. A significant amount of this work helped to launch and define the field of chemokine biology. In addition, he has been involved in assessing epigenetic regulation of immune cell phenotypes which dictate the expression pattern of inflammatory mediators. His studies in cytokine and chemokine biology are internationally recognized and have provided a more clear understanding of how these proteins are regulated and participate in the initiation, maintenance, and resolution of acute and chronic lung diseases. He has co-authored600 peer reviewed manuscripts, has an H-Index of greater than 100, possesses 12 patents, and has maintained continuous funding of major National Institute of Health grants for over 3 decades years. In his current administrative role, as the Senior Associate Dean for Research in the Medical School, he oversees both basic and clinical research in the Medical School. He has served on numerous National Institute of Health peer review study sections, organized a variety of international conferences on inflammation (organized Gordon and Keystone Conferences), is an associate editor for various professional scientific journals, and is a past recipient of an NIH MERIT Award. In addition, he is the former chair of the Board of Scientific Counselors for the NIAID-NIH, a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation, and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.